Movable door closure and sealing means



C. R. HUNTER MOVABLE DOOR CLOSURE AND SEALING MEANS Feb 13, 195i 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 10, 1947 Fig.

-6har/es R. Hunter JNVENTOR.

Feb. 13, 19511 c. R. HUNTER 295439421 MOVABLE DOOR CLOSURE AND SEALING MEANS Filed Dec. 10, 1947 '5 Sheets-Sheet 2 50 @fiar/es H Hunter INVENTOR.

Feb 13, 1951 c. R. HUNTER MOVABLE DOOR CLOSURE AND SEALING MEANS I5 Sheets-Sheei 3 Filed Dec. 10, 1947 Charles H. Hunter IN V EN TOR.

Patented Feb. 13, 19 51 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOVABLE DOOR CLOSURE AND SEALING MEANS Charles R. Hunter, Camden, N. .1.

Application December 10, 1947, Serial No. 790,817

7 Claims. (CI. 2068) This invention comprises novel and useful improvements on a movable door closure and sealing means and more particularly pertains to an assembly which is especially designed for use in conjunction with the threshold seal and looking device disclosed in my co-pending allowed application, Serial No. 647,341, filed February 13, 1946, now Patent No. 2,434,042, patented January 6, 1948.

In said co-pending application there is disclosed a construction of threshold for doors which is provided with a sealing bar extending longitudinally of the threshold and which is selectively elevatable into sealin engagement with a channel formed longitudinally of the lower end of a door. While the construction set forth in my above mentioned co-pending application is quite satisfactory for providing a sealing means for preventing the passage of air, rain or snow through the clearance necessarily provided between the lower end of a door and a threshold, and is also highly effective as a locking means for a door, it has been found that in certain climates difficulties are experienced by reason of the entrance of moisture into the channels containing the sealing bar which upon freezing of the moisture interferes with the operation of the sealingbar and sometimes damages the operating mechanism therefor.

The present invention although not limited thereto is particularly designed for use with my above mentioned threshold sealing and locking bar of my above identified co-pending application, and consistsof an attachment which may be applied to the lower end of the door and when so applied cooperates with the-sealing and looking bar of my above mentioned construction, and further serves to satisfactorily seal and prevent the entrance of moisture and other matter into the space between the threshold and the bottom of the door, and hence excludes moisture and other matter from the interior of thev operating mechanism and housing of the threshold sealing bar.

The primary object of this invention therefore is to provide a construction which will prevent the entrance of moisture between the door and the threshold. I

A further important object of the invention resides in the provision of a sealing mechanism for the threshold and lower side of the door which shall be automatically operable by and in response to manipulation of a threshold seal and locking device.

An important feature of the invention is the provision of a longitudinal sealing element which is carried on the outside of the lower end of a door and which is selectively engageable with the door threshold throughout the entire length thereof for effectively establishing a seal to prevent the entrance of moisture between the door and threshold.

A further feature of this invention resides in the provision of an attachment which may be readily applied to the lower edge of a door and which is provided witha water table for further preventing the discharge of water running down the outside of a door from coming into contact with the threshold adjacent the opening between the door and the threshold.

A still further feature of the invention includes the provision of a sealing strip as set forth hereinbefore which is hingedly supported within a casing extending beneath and carried by the lower edge of a door above a threshold, and which is counterbalanced by a counterweight bar housed in said casing whereby the sealing element is normally in its raised position to enable the lower edge of the door, sealing element and water table to effectively clear the threshold during movement of the door.

Yet another important feature of the invention resides in the provision of push-rod means which are carried by and are mounted within a longitudinal channel in the lower surface of the casing of the attachment, and which push-rod members are pivotally connected to the support bars upon which are mounted the counterweight and the sealin element.

And a final important feature of the invention to be specifically enumerated herein, resides in the provision of an assembling casing which may be readily applied to the lower surface of doors of different thicknesses in which the casing is cut away adjacent the ends thereof to provide slots permitting oscillation of the support bars therethrough; together with an end plate closure for the casing which shall enclose said slot; together with sealing plates carried by the sealing element for closing the upper ends of the slots.

These, together with further and ancillary objects and features of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this device, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a door showin the present invention applied to the lower end thereof, in conjunction with the 3 threshold and sealing bar construction of my above identified co-pending application;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view, upon an enlarged scale, taken substantially upon the plane of the section line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the position of the parts of the present invention and of the threshold sealing strip in their disengaged or inoperative position, the position of the threshold sealing strip operating cam being indicated in dotted lines therein;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary end elevational view showing the present invention applied to the lower portion of a door, and showing the threshold and sealing bar construction, with the sealing bar operating cam and toe plate actuator therefor being indicated in dotted lines, the parts being indicated in their inoperative position;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the parts in their sealing position, the threshold sealing strip being in its raised or sealing position, and the threshold sealing means of the present invention being indicated in its sealing position, the 'positionof the sealing bar ,operating ,cam and the toe plate actuator therefor being indicated in dotted lines;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane of the section line 5-5 of Figure 3, parts being broken away;

Figure 46 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view, parts being broken away, taken substantially upon the plane Of the section line 6-.6 of Figure 3, the threshold sealing strip operating cams, and the operating mechanism therefor being indicated in .dotted lines;

Figure 7 is an exploded group perspective View of the movable arts of the present invention; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the end plates of the invention.

Referring first to Figures '1 and 2, a portion of a dooris indicated at 10, one of the door jam'bs being shown at I2. It is to be understood that the invention is applicable to a door and door jamb of any known type. The attachment of the present invention is indicated generally at [4 in Figure 2 and is applied to the lower surface of the door iii, which lower surface will be cut away in order to provide room for applying the attachment. Indicated generally at 46 is a threshold construction, which is preferably that shown in my above identified co-pending application.

For purposes of the present invention, it is not necessary to understand the specific construction of my improved threshold; only those parts being shown such as are necessary to an understanding of the present invention. These include a base plate it, upon which is mounted a housing member forming the outer surface of the threshold and an enclosing casing for the mechanism of the sealing bar housed therein. This casing includes sloping side walls 20 integrally attached to a horizontal threshold surface 22. The sides 28 of the threshold are provided with flanges for securing the same to the base plate H3. The horizontal upper surface of the threshold 22 is medially provided with a longitudinally extending depressed U-shaped channel 24 extending the full length of the threshold. Housed within this channel and elevatable therein is a sealing bar 26 which is rectangular in cross section and in its lowered position has its upper surface terminating flush with the surface 22, but in its. r ised position extends for a considerable length thereabove, as shown clearly in Figure 4, for a pur' pose which will later be apparent. For selecsealing means assembly M forming the subject of the present invention. This comprises an integral casing which is generally U-shaped in cross-section andopen at its extremities.

This casing includes integral side walls 34 and a bottom wall 36. The bottom wall is provided throughout its entire longitudinal extent and medially thereof with a recessed channel portion 38 which is of substantially the same width as the channel portion 24 of the th-r-eshold member but is of a depth which is preferably somewhat greater than one-half of the above mentioned member 24. Upon the inner surfaces of the side walls 84 are provided a pair of parallel longitudina'ily extending ribs 40 0f suificient width to constitute seats or shoulders for receiving various thicknesses of doors thereon. When the casing is of greater thickness than the door, inserts or spacer plates or shims could be positioned between the door and one 'wall '34, the ribs 38 supr porting the spacer plates and the lower edge of the door it thereon. Any suitable fastening means such as screws 42 serve to secure the side walls 34 of the casing to the lower edge of the door 10, this casing extending throughout, the entire length of the door from one edge to the other. Bosses 44 are provided at the ends of the inner surfaces of the side walls '34 and bottom wall 36, for a purpose which will later become apparent. Integrally formed upon one of the side walls 34, is an angularly depending'plate 45 constituting a water table for shedding the water running down the outside of the .door and preventing the same from falling upon the threshold adjacent the clearance normally provided between the bottom of the door and the top of the threshold. This construction is clearly shown in Figure 2.

It will thus be seen that when the casing assembly is installed upon'the lower edge of a door, and the latter is closed in its jambs, actuation of the above described mechanism will cause the sealing bar 25 to be elevated into engaged position within the upper channel member 38. This raised position or locking position of the sealing bar is shown in Figure 4, In this position, it will thus 'be seen that the lower edge of the door is locked to the threshold, and further that the seals b r enga ng both of the aligned channels 24 and '38, constitutes a seal preventing the ingress of air and moisture from one side-of the threshold to the other, since the space or clearance provided between the lower edge of the door and the threshold is sealed off or interrupted by the bar.

The outer ends of the outer side walls 34 which carry the integral water table thereon, are notched inwardly as at A8 for a purpose which will now become apparent. The upper surface of the channel member 38, within the casing of the-assembly IA, is provided with pairs of bra kets mounted thereon and overhanging one edge thereof. These brackets, as shown in Figure 5, consist of L-shaped members 50 which are welded or otherwise rigidly attached to the upper sur face of the channel member 38, and which overhang that side of the channel member adjacent the slots or notches 48'. By means of hinge pins 52 extending between the brackets 50, a pair of support bars 54 are hinged or pivoted to the brackets 50 intermediate their ends. The outer extremities of the support bars 54 extend through and vertically swing in the slotted portions 48 of the end wall 34, and since the hinge pins 52 overlie the outer edges of the channel members 38, the support bars 54 are permitted to oscillate between a position wherein their lower surfaces rest squarely upon the upper surfaces of the channel members 38, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, and a position where the support bars are inclined as shown in Figure 4. The inner ends of the support bars 54 extend through apertures 56, see Figure 7, in a counterweight bar 58, this counterweight bar being rigidly attached to the support bars in any desired manner but preferably as by means of pins 59 extending therethrough.

The counterweight bar is of sufficient weight to more than overbalance the weight on the other end of the support bars 54, and is of suflicient size to constitute, if desired, a stop means resting upon the bottom wall 36 or any other abutment or support surface, of the assembly when the support bars 54 are substantially in their horizontal or normal rest position.

At their other extremities, the support bars 54 have their outer ends bevelled as indicated at 6B. Abutting these inclined surfaces 60 and secured thereto as by pins 62, is a transversely extending bar constituting a sealing element 64 which is reciprocable Within the space between the side walls 34 and the water table 46. It is to be understood that any desired fastening means may be utilized for securing these members.

The lower edge of this sealing element 64 is bevelled as at 65 to establish a sealing engagement with the sloping surface of the side walls of the threshold assembly I6, when the sealing element is in its lowered position as shown in Figure 4. The sealing element 64 extends the entire length of the assembly l4, and thus. establishes contact with the sloping surface of the threshold from jamb to jamb. The inclined surfaces 60 of the support bars 54 position the sealing element 64 at an angle with the vertical plates, to enable the element to oscillate within the wedge shaped space between the water table and the side walls 34. The height of the sealing element 64 is such that the lower surface of the bottom wall 35, sealing element 64 and the water table 46 all lie in substantially the same horizontal plane, thereby clearing the upper surface 22 of the threshold assembly. Although for convenience of illustration, the sealing element has been shown as directly engaging the outer surface of the threshold, obviously any desired water tight sealing engagement may be employed to enhance the efficiency of the sealing action.

As shown best in Figures 2 and '7, a pair of plates or shields 68 are welded or otherwise secured at the same angle as the sealing element to the upper surface of the support bars in a position inside the casing and in front of the slot 48 to thereby engage and cover the upper end of the slot when the sealing element 64 and support bars 54 are in their lowered position.

This arrangement of parts is shown ure 4.

Alternative flexible bellows types of coverings can be secured to the extending ends of the support bars 54 and to the rim of the slots 48 to provide a fluid tight seal which permits oscillation of the support bars in the slots.

It will thus be seen that the counterweight bar 58 and the sealing element 64 are rigidly attached to the support bars 54 by means of the pins 59 and 62. This entire assembly is pivoted at the central points of the support bars 54 by means of the pivot pins 52, which pivot pins as above mentioned overlie the outer edge of the wall of the channel 38, thereby permitting the above mentioned pivotal movement of the bar assembly.

The weight of the counterweight bar 58 is such as to normally retain the parts in the position shown in Figures 2 and 3, and the assembly is displaced from this position and urged into threshold sealing position with the surface 66 in contact with the sloping wall 20 of the threshold assembly, upon actuation of the sealing bar 26 bya means to be now described. 01" course, the action of the counterweight could be assisted by spring means if desired.

Vertically reciprocable in the channels 38, are a pair of push-rod members including generally rectangular base or foot plates 10 having parallel upwardly extending arms 12 which are reciprocatingly received within apertures T4, see Figure 6, formed in the upper wall 39 of the recessed channel member 38. It will thus be seen that when the sealing bar 26 is elevated, its upper surface engages the lower surface of the push-rod plates 70, and raises the push-rod in the channel 38,so that when the sealing bar 26 is in fully raised position, the push-rod base plates 18 will be adjacent the upper portion of the channels 38, as shown in Figure 4. The arms 12 of each of the push-rod members embrace the support rods 54 and are secured thereto as by transverse pins 15 extending between the upper portions of the arms 12 and riding in angularly inclined slots 16 extending through and formed in the support bars 54. The slots 16 may be regarded as cam slots, thence upon upward movement of the push-rod members, the pins 15, which have straight line vertical motion push against the inclined surface of the upper wall of the slots l6, and cause swin ing of the support bars 54 about their fulcrum pins 52. It will thus be seen that the engagement of the pins :5 in the inclined slots l6 provides a pivotal connection between the vertically reciprocating push-rod members and the oscillatin support bars 54. Obviously, when the operating mechanism of the sealing bar 26 is released, the sealing bar is retracted or dropped to its original position, and the counterweight 58 restores the support bars 54 to their rest position while at the .same time moving the push-rod members downwardly to their lower position in the channel 38. such that the lower surface of the push-rod base plates 10 are flush with the lower surface of the bottom wall 36.

It may be here noted that slight variations inthe clearances provided between the lower surface of the door and the upper surface of the threshold are compensated for by this mechanism. Thus, the sealing bar 26 and the push-rods are raised until the bevelled surface 66 of the sealing element 64 is in sealing engagement with the sloping wall 20 of the threshold assembly. At this best in Figpoint, further upward movement of the support.

Preferably, the construction of the parts is- 7 bars 54, of the push rods, and of the sealing bar 26 is prevented.

However, in order to further adapt the device to undue variations from the desired clearance between the lower edge of the door and the threshold, as for example would occur upon sagging of the floors or the like, any suitable type of resilient connection may be interposed between the su port bars 5 and the push-rod-members, to thereby provide a resilient yielding engagement which would permit further upward movement of the sea-ling bar 26 to its fully raised position even after the sealing element 54 has established a sealing engagement with the side walls '20 of the threshold assembly.

It should here be noted that the merging of the inner walls of the channels 38 with the lower surface of the bottom wall 36, is preferably bevelled as at 18 to serve to guide the upper end of the sealing bar 26 into the channel 38, even if the channels 38 and 2 are not exactly aligned.

It will of course be understood that sufficient clearance is provided between the plates 10 and the channels 38 and the sealing bar 26 and channel 24, to permit these parts to work smoothly without binding.

The ends of the assembly M are provided with a plurality of threaded bores as at 30, these bores being formed in the ends of the above mentioned shoulders or ribs 40 and the enlarged bosses 44. The ends of the assembly 14 are further slightly recessed below the upper surface of the ribs ii], t the lowermost surface thereof, to accommodate end plates 82, see Figure 8, which serve to enclose the ends of the assembly 14. Fastening screws 8'4, see Figure 1, engage the bores 30 and serve to de-tachably retain the end plates 82 in position. The end plate 82 is provided with a notched portion 86 which exactly registers with the channel 38'. Extending laterally from the end plate 82, is a projection 88, which as shown in Figure 5, extends into the notch 48 and constitutes a guiding surface for the support bars 54. It will thus be seen that the end plate 82 lies flush with the edges of the door H3, provides a detachable means for enclosing the ends of the assembly l4, and when removed ives ready access to the connections or the support bars with the counterweight,

the sealing element, the push-rod members and the fulcrum pins 52.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the manner of constructing and operating the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, attention is directed to the fact that substantially all of the parts of the threshold assembly and the door closure assembly, 6 and it: respectively, are formed of sheet metal, preferably of one-eighth inch thickness, and may thereby be ec n mi l- 1y constructed to provide a sturdy but lightweight mechanism.

In use, it will thus be seen that when the seali'ng element t4 in its sealing position by reason of the elevation of the sealing bar 26, rain or water are prevented from blowing into the space between the walls 35 and 22 of the door and threshold, and at the same time, the plate 58 protects or seals the upper portion of the slot 48. Thus, while the sealing bar 26 serves to prevent drafts or wind from blowing between threshold and door, the sealing element 58 simultaneously functions as an additional seal preventing the direct flow of wind or air against the sealing bar 2 B, and what is more important, prevents the entry or water or moisture into access with the 8 sealing bar. Further, this sealing element is-compactly housed between the wall 34 and the water table 3-6, in an eitective and unobtrusive manner.

As suggested hereinbefore, the closure assembly is obviously capable of use apart from its particular and especial coaction with the threshold assembly of my above identified application. Thus, the closure assembly could be employed with any threshold provided the latter contained plungers or other means registering with the push rod elements.

From the one foregoing, numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, and accordingly it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, but allsuitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A door closure and sealing means comprising a casing adapted for attachment to the lower portion of a door and for registry with a threshold, said casing having a slot, a support bar in said casing and extending through said slot for vertical movement therein, a sealing element secured to the extending end of said support bar and engageable in its lowered position with a threshold, means in said casing journaling said support bar for vertical pivoting movement, op-

erating means in said casing below said bar and pivoted at its upper end to said bar on the 0pposite side of the fulcrum from the sealing element, a shield opcrati'v'ely connected with said sealing element, said shield being movable to simultaneously close said slot when said sealing element is in its lowered position, a plate mounted on said support bar for covering-said slot when the support bar is in its lowered posit-ion.

A -do'or closure and sealing means comprising a casing adapted for attachment to the lower portion of a door and for registry with a threshold, said casing having a slot, a support bar in said casing and extending through raid slot for verticaim'ovement therein, a sealing element secured to the extending end of said sup port 'b'ar and engagea-ble in its lowered position with a threshold, means in said casing journa'ling said support bar for vertical pivoting movement, operating means in said casing below said bar and pivoted at its upper end to said bar on the opposite side of the fulcrum from the sealing element, a shield operatively connected with said sealing element, said shield being movable to simultaneously close said slot when said sealin element is in its lowered position, a plate mounted on said support bar for covering said slot when the support bar is in its lowered position, said plate being disposed on the in rior of said casing and extending above said support "bar.

3. A door closure and sealing means compris ing 'a casing adapted for attachment to a door for registry with an adjacent portion of a door fra said casing having an outside wall which is zeent-rant to define a longitudinal channel on its outer surface for the reception of a sealing member extensible from said adjacent portion "of the door frame, said casingha'ving a further ou side wall with a slot 'therethrongh, a support bar in said casing extending through said slot and movable therein, a sealing element carried by the extending *end "of said support bar and engageab'le one position with said adjacent portion of '-'a door frame i -or sealing engagement therewith, means in saideas in'g for'pi-votally mounting said support bar, an operating means slidably received in said channel and operatively connected with said support bar.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said support bar extends across the reentrant portion of the casing outside wall, a counterweight bar disposed on the opposite side of the channel from the sealing element and secured to said support bar.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein said support bar extends across the reentrant portion of the casing outside wall, a counterweight bar disposed on the opposite side of the channel from the sealing element and secured to said support bar, said counterweight bar having apertures, said support bar being received in said apertures, means retaining said support bar in said apertures.

6. The combination of claim 3 wherein said casing is open at one end, said channel and slot opening into said open end, a casing closure plate secured to the open end and covering the same, said plate having a notch in one edge registering with said channel and forming a continuation thereof, said plate closing the open end of said slot.

7. The combination of claim 3 wherein said casin is open at one end, said channel and slot opening into said open end, a casing closure plate secured to the open end and covering the same, said plate having a notch in one edge registering with said channel and forming a continuation thereof, said plate closing the open end of said slot, said plate having a lug entering the open end of said slot for closing the same.

CHARLES R. HUNTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 327,563 Lowe Oct. 6, 1885 347,206 Skinner et al. Aug. 10, 1886 350,102 B'eams Oct. 5, 1886 982,828 Kelly Jan. 31, 1911 1,478,974 Marcotte Dec. 25, 1923 2,033,241 Hawk Mar. 10, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 50,536 Germany Jan. 25, 1890 309,730 Germany Dec. 11, 1918 170,705 Switzerland Oct. 1, 1934 

